Fresh
Beginnings
By
Susan Marlene
April
17, 2017
“Sir, we remember,
while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will
rise.’
Pilate said to
them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” So
they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.
Matthew 27:63 & 65 - 66
The sun had already risen that early morn at the
beginning of the week on the third day. Mary
Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome made their way to the tomb to
anoint their precious Jesus. Who would
roll away the rock for them? Surprise shook awake any lingering slumber and
shoved aside grief with a fresh desire to run. The guards were not to be seen and
the huge rock—rolled aside—allowing free entrance. Fear sped their feet into
the tomb.
“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth who was
crucified. He is risen!” The young man clothed in a long white robe—sitting on
the right side—seemed to wait for their arrival in order to offer a message
bursting with fresh beginnings. A message and warm welcome they’d not expected.
How so like our Lord, to show His power when the world
expects weakness. To create wondrous blessings out of our deepest griefs. To
bring hope and joy when the world is shrouded in darkness and despair.
His Word is alive and active, rich and strong and
creative. Relationship with Him dissolves religious trappings that always
follows the old-form boxed-in traditions without locating the heart. His grace
drew the masses, His love conquered hate. His presence ignited life in His
followers. Every changed heart and saved soul is a miracle and new beginnings
abound where His life is evident.
We are writers and the challenges lie in the tilt of
our pens. Will we align ourselves to relay His character in our hero’s natures.
Will our stories alarm and grip our readers because we write what matters? Will
our heroic themes influence our readers to be more, feel more, and stretch
further to find the highest and best? Wouldn’t that be something—to discover
that what we wrote introduced others to their fresh beginnings. What if our words
were used to free people from the discouragement and harshness that living can
bring and introduce them to the one who matters most?
He will comfort
all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her
desert like the garden of the Lord, joy and
gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving
and the voice of
melody.
Isaiah 51:3
